String bean grader



u 24, 1954 c. E. KERR Em 2,687,212

STRING BEAN GRADER .Filed May 20. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fit-1L1 3110mm CHARLES E; KERR UAR/0H 0. SMITH attorney Aug. 24, 1954 c'. E. KERR ETAL 2,587,212

' STRING BEAN GRADER Filed May 20, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nventor CHARLES E. KERR MARION 0. SMITH (Ittomeg Aug. 24, 1954 c. E. KERR ETAL 2,687,212

STRING BEAN GRADER Filed May 20, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E:- El I I W h s I 2" l CHARLES E KERR "A8100 0. SMITH Patented Aug. 24, 1954 STRING BEAN GRADER Charles E. Kerr and Marion 0. Smith, Hoopeston, Ill., assignors to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application May 20, 1950, Serial No. 163,194

4 Claims. 1

The present invention appertains to screening or grading mechanism, and relates more particularly to a grading drum for a machine for grading elongated vegetable products such as string beans according to size and to a method of assembling such drums.

The invention is an improvement in graders of the type disclosed in Patent 2,416,008to Charles E. Kerr, dated February 18, 1947.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved bean grader.

Another object is to provide an improved and simplified mounting arrangement for the grading rings of a bean grader.

Another objectis to provide adequate spacing support for the screening rings of a bean grader without unduly obstructing the apertured bean grading areas thereof.

Another object is to provide simple, inexpensive and accurate spacing and supportmeans for the grading rings of a pair of eccentrically rotating reels of a bean grading mechanism.

Another object is to provide a simple and improved mounting arrangement for the grading rings of a pair of reels forming the screening drum of a bean grader to permit relative eccentric rotative movement of the reels while retaining and guiding the rings of the respective reels.

Another object is to locate and guide the interposed grading rings of a pair of eccentrically mounted reels forming a grading drum by means of simple, easily machined, structural elements mounted on one of the reels.

Another object is to provide a new method for assembling a pair of eccentrically rotatable reels having interposed grading rings and forming the drum of a bean grader.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bean grading machine embodying the present invention, a portion of the grading drum being broken away along a vertical, longitudinal median plane.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary per- Epective view showing mounting and guiding arrangements for the eccentrically rotating grading rings of the two relatively interposed reels which form the grading drum.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, a grading machine embodying the present invention comprises a supporting frame A upon which is rotatably mounted a grading drum B made up of a pair of open ended vertically eccentric and relatively interposed outer and inner reels [0 and I l, respectively. While the illustrated embodiment of the invention is particularly adapted for the grading of string beans, it is obvious that the invention is capable of use for the grading and sorting of other products. It is intended, therefore, that the term bean as 'used herein shall extend to and include such other. products.

The frame A is of usual structural steel construction with supporting legs I2, diagonal bracing [3, end braces l4, and longitudinal braces Hi. The intake end of the supporting frame is somewhat higher than the discharge end thereof so that the grading drum B mounted thereon will be tilted downwardly toward its discharge end to convey the beans along and through the drum. A hopper I5 is mounted beneath the grading drum B to catch the graded beans dropping therefrom. The hopper may be arranged to discharge into usual receiving means, not shown.

A pair of reel support and drive shafts I8 and I9 (Fig. 2) are journaled in similar pairs of bearings 20 and 2| mounted on opposite sides of the top frame l4. Each of these shafts has a bevel gear 22 secured on an end thereof and in driven engagement with bevel gears 23 mounted on. a

drive shaft 24 (Fig. l) to which a driven pulley 25 is secured. The pulley 25 is driven by a belt 28 from a suitable source of power such as a motor, not shown.

A chain and sprocket connection from the drive shaft 24 drives the head roll 29 of a conventi'onal draper belt type elevator 30 which is pivoted to swing on a shaft 3| mounted to extend transversely between the upper ends of a pair of upward extensions 32 on the shaft bearings 20. A manually operated lever 33 pivotally mounted on the frame A is comlected by a link 34 to the frame of the elevator 30 to permit adjustment of the tilt of the elevator belt thereby to control the feeding rate of the beans by the elevator from the hopper 35. The elevator is mounted to discharge the beans into the open intake end of the drum B.

The outer reel l0 of the drum (Figs. 3 and 4) comprises a pair of relatively heavy end rings 38 and 3'9, rigidly interconnected by six tie bars 40. These tie bars are provided with circular 3 end bosses M which fit closely into corresponding locating recesses in the end. rings, and are secured thereto by screws 32.

The end rings 35 and 39 of the outer reel are cradled upon pairs of support and drive rollers 43 and l t, respectively, secured to the shafts I8 and I9 to rotate therewith. The end ring 39 is provided with a radially outwardly projecting guide rib 46 which rides in corresponding grooves in the support rollers M to secure the reel against axial displacement. The radially inward sides of the tie bars 40 of the outer reel are grooved longitudinally as at 15 (Figs. 3 and 4) and the heads 68 of a plurality of T-shaped ring mounting and guide segments 4% are inserted lengthwise in each of these grooves with a close slidable fit therein. The segments 45 are all similar to each other with the exception of the endmost ones 49a which have the projection forming one side of the head of the T removed for abutting against the end rings 38 and 39 to provide a grading slot between the end rings and the grading rings adjacent thereto.

The outer reel it (Figs. 2 and l) has a plurality of flat grading rings 59, each of which is pro vided with a number of radially projecting ears which are inserted in the notches formed between the sides of adjacent T-shaped segments 69 (Figs. 3 and 4). Each ear 5| has a notch 5% (Fig. 4) in its radially outward edge to fit over the adjacent ends of the head portions of the T-shaped segments which form the bottoms of the notches into which the ears El are inserted, and the radially outward edges of the ears 5| (Fig. 2) bear against the inner sides Mia of the tie bars 60 on opposite sides of the groove #5 therein.

The lateral projections forming the heads is of the T-shaped segments 49 are slightly less in length than one-half the thickness of the ears 5! of the grading rings 50 received between then, so that when the rings are mounted as shown in the drawings, and the segments are drawn to gether by the screws d2, the stem portions 52 of the segments ii) firmly grip the grading rings 59 therebetween (Figs. 3 and i). This frictional gripping of the rings 59 by the segments, together with the notched interengagement between the T-shaped segments ll and the ears SI of the rings, securely anchors the rings against axial, radial or rotative displacement relative to the tie bars 40.

The inner ends of the stems d2 of the T-shaped segments d9 (Figs. 3 and 4) are provided with relatively deep notches 53 centrally thereof to receive the grading rings fill of the inner reel II for slidable radially guided movement therein during the relatively eccentric rotation of the reels about their respective axes.

The inner reel I l comprises a pair of relatively heavy end rings 5! and 82 generally similar to the end rings 38 and 39 of the outer reel id, but slightly smaller in diameter. These inner reel end rings BI and 62 (Figs. 1 and 3) are cradled upon pairs of support and driving rollers 83 and 64, respectively, which are mounted on and secured to the shafts i8 and iii in a manner similar to that described previously herein for the rollers 53 and M for the outer reel Ill.

The rollers 53 and 5 for supporting and driving the inner reel I I are proportionately smaller than those which support and drive the outer reel ii), so that the two reels will be rotatively driven at slightly different peripheral speeds. The difference in diameters of the end rings of the inner and outer reels and of their respective supporting and driving rollers, causes the axis 68 (Fig. 2) of the inner reel II to be disposed below the axis 69 of the outer reel Ill. The end rings 61 and 62 of the inner reel I l are connected together by three tie bars it, the ends of which are provided with circular bosses I! (Fig. 3) which are fitted into corresponding circular recesses in radially inwardly extending ears 12 formed integrally on the end rings 6i and 62 of the inner reel Ii. Cap screws '13 (Figs. 3 and 4:) secure the inner reel end rings BI and 62 to the tie bars 79.

Each of the inner reel tie bars it has a rib '14 extending lengthwise along its radially outward side (Figs. 2 and 4) and these ribs fit into notches T5 in a corresponding plurality of inwardly extending ears ll formed on each of the inner reel grading rings 50. The radially inner ends of the ears ll engage the tie bars 18 on both sides of the rib 74 (Fig. 2) but are not positively located endwise by frictional engagement therewith, since the inner grading rings 50 are located and guided endwise, as mentioned previously herein, by their sliding fit Within the elongated end notches 53 in the stems 52 of the T-shaped segments 48.

The eccentricity and relative diameters of the grading rings 58 and 8d of the two reels i0 and I i are such that the inner grading rings never bottom in their elongated notches 53 during their radially sliding movements therein, nor do they ever pass completely out of these notches. The relative widths of the grading rings 50 and 80, and the eccentricity of the two reels I0 and I I are sufficient, however, to move the inner rings 60 inwardly clear of the outer rings 50 at the top of each rotative cycle to provide suficient clearance between the inner and outer sets of grading rings (indicated at 78 in Fig. 2) to free any beans which might have become lodged between the rings.

A cylindrical discharge spout l5 (Fig. 3) which may be of sheet metal, is fitted into the discharge side of the inner reel end ring 62 to carry the over-size beans which fail to pass between the grading rings outwardly to a suitable discharge zone beyond the end of the frame A.

In grading machines of this general type it is essential for accurate grading that the interposed grading rings 50 and 6!! of the two eccentric reels i0 and I I be accurately spaced axially from each other. In the manufacture of this type of machine the maintenance of a toieranceof plus or minus .004 of an inch in the spacing of adjacent grading rings is desirable but with previously known machines of this nature the cost of maintaining such close tolerances becomes almost prohibitive.

The segments 49 of the present mechanism however, may be machined very accurately on small, high production, precision machinery, and with the present invention it is therefore a very simple matter to maintain tolerances in the spacing of the rings of even less than the plus or minus .004 of an inch mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The amount the heads 48 of the segments project laterally beyond the stems '52 is immaterial, providing it is less than half the thickness of the grading ring to be gripped 'between adjacent segments. In fact, the only critical dimensions on the segments are the width Of the stem portion 52 and the width and location of the elongated central notch 53 in the end of the stem portion 52. It will be obvious to anyone familiar with machine shop practice that these portions can be machined to extremely close tolerances without difficulty and at a low cost.

In assembling the illustrated type of grading drum B the end ring 39 of the outer reel I9 is suitably supported in a vertical edgewise position to secure the right-hand ends of the tie bars 40 thereto by the screws 42. The ring 39 is then released from its vertical support and is laid upon its outer face with the tie bars 49 extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom. Six of the end type segments 49a are then mounted in approximately symmetrical arrangement around the periphery of an inner grading ring 69, with the edge of the ring inserted in the elongated notches 53 in the stems of the segments. The inner grading ring 60, with the six end type segments so assembled thereon is then moved into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the heads of the segments 49a being guided downwardly within the grooves 45 in the outer tie bars 49 and come to rest upon the inner face of the ring 39. Thus, the first inner ring 69 and the end ring 39 form a gauging slot. Next an outer grading ring 50 is placed upon the stems 52 of the segments 49a with the notches 54 in the ears 5! of said outer grading ring fitted upon the upstanding head extensions of the T-shaped end segments 4911. Then a. second inner grading ring 69 with six regular segments 49 assembled on its outer edge is mounted in a manner similar to that described for the first inner reel ring 60, and a second outer grading ring 59 is positioned on the sides of the stems of this next group of segments 49 in the same manner as that described for the first. The above steps are repeated in alternate order until the tie bars 49 of the outer reel are filled with segments, finishing with a set of end type segments 49a. When the outer tie rods are thus filled, the end ring 38 is placed upon the upper ends of the bars 49 and is secured thereto in the same manner hereinbefore described for the end ring 39, following which the assembled outer reel is laid upon its side. In the next assembly step the end ring 62 of the inner reel II is suitably supported in a vertical edgewise position to secure the right-hand ends of the tie bars 10 to the ears 1'! thereof by the cap screws 13. The ring 62 is then released from its vertical support and the tie bars 10 are passed through the assembled inner grading rings 69 and during such passage said rings are rotated, if necessary, so that the tongues or ribs 14 of said tie bars H1 will engage and fit within the notches 15 formed in the ears I! of said inner grading rings 60. Upon completion of the foregoing step the end ring 6| is secured to the projecting ends of the tie bars 70 in the same manner hereinbefore described for the end ring 62. The thus assembled drum B, consisting of the two reels l and l l with their relatively interposed grading rings is then mounted in position on its rollers as shown in Fig. 1 and the machine is ready for operation.

The spacing and guiding of the grading rings for relative radial movement is not dependent upon any means carried by the inner reel since the tie bars thereof merely hold the rings in substantially co-axial relation and against relative rotative displacement with respect to each other. Both sets of grading rings are positively spaced apart by the symmetrically arranged segments 49. Changes in the spacing between adjacent rings may be made by providing interchangeable sets of segments 49 of difierent stem widths.

The exact number of tie bars used in making the reels is not essential to the invention, but it is important to note that with our present invention the grading rings Of both the inner and outer reels may be positively held in properly spaced relation and guided solely by means independent of the tie bars of the inner reel. Also that no accurate machining of large parts is required to provide proper and accurate spacing of the grading rings, and, further, that relatively few tie bars are required for the inner reel, which provides more open grading area and causes less interference with the grading action of the beans in the drum.

Since the manner of operation of this type of grading machine is well known, and is substantially similar to that described for the machine in Kerr Patent 2,416,008 mentioned previously herein, it will be unnecessary to describe the operation in further detail.

While we have described a preferred method and embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood however that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a grading machine, a rotary grading drum, comprising an inner and outer reel mounted to rotate eccentrically of each other and composed of alternately interposed grading rings, tie bars arranged exteriorly and longitudinally of the grading rings of said outer reel and having grooves formed lengthwise within the inner faces thereof, interchangeable ring spacing and guiding elements slidably mounted within said grooves for engagement by and interposition between the grading rings of the outer reel to thus maintain the same in axially aligned spaced relation, said elements having notches formed therein to receive and guide the grading rings of said inner reel for eccentric rotative movement relative to said outer reel grading rings and to maintain said inner reel grading rings in axially spaced relation, the grading rings of the inner reel having their axes normally disposed below the axes of the grading rings of the outer reel to thereby form sizing openings between the spaced overlapping portions of the alternately interposed grading rings of said inner and outer reels, said sizing openings being circumferentially continuous throughout said overlapping portions, and. tie bars arranged interiorly and longitudinally of the grading rings of the inner reel and having ribs formed lengthwise upon their outer faces for engagement by said grading rings to thus maintain the same in co-axial relation.

2. In a grading machine, a rotary grading drum comprising an inner and an outer reel mounted to rotate eccentrically of each other and composed of alternately interposed grading rings, the grading rings of said inner reel having uniformly spaced notches formed within their inner edges and the grading rings of said outer reel having uniformly spaced notches formed within the peripheral edges thereof, tie bars arranged exteriorly and longitudinally of the grading rings of said outer reel and having grooves formed lengthwise within the inner faces of same, interchangeable T-shaped ring spacing and guiding members having their heads slidably mounted within said grooves and having their stems extending radially inward from said tie bars for interposition between the grading rings of the outer reel and for joint straddling. engagement by the peripherat notches of. said ringsof the. opposed head projections of adjacent. ring mount.- ing and guiding members to thus; maintain the. grading rings of the outer reel in axially aligned and spaced relation, said ring mounted and guiding members having notches formed within. the inner ends of the stems thereof to receive andguide the grading. rings of said inner reel for eecentric rotative movement relative to. the grading rings of the outer reel and toalso maintain the grading rings of the inner reel in axially spaced relation to each other and to. the grad:- ing rings of said outer reel; the grading rings'oi the inner reel. having their axes normally disposed below the axes of the grading'rings of the outer reel to thereby form sizing openings in the lower half portion of the rotary grading drum between the spaced overlapping portions of the alternately interposed grading rings of said inner and outer reels, said sizing openings being circumferentiall y continuous throughout said overlapping portions, tie bars arranged interiorly and longitudinally of the grading rings of the inner reel and having ribs formed lengthwise upon their outer faces for straddling engagement by the notches formed upon the inner edges of the grading rings of the inner reel to maintain the same in co-axial relation, and means for simultaneously rotating the inner and outer reels eccentrically of each other.

3.. In arotary grading drum, the combination of: a series of longitudinally aligned and interchangeable T-shaped: ring mounting and guiding segments each having open-ended slots formed within their stem ends, means mounting the head ends of said segments for rotation of the latter with said drum, a series of outer grading rings for said drum, each of said rings being interposed between adjoining segments and having overlapping. engagement. with the opposed head projections of said adjoining segments whereby said ringsstraddle the joints between said segments and rotate therewith, a series of inner grading rings for said grading drum, each ring being slidably disposed Within the. slotof. its correlated segment for eccentricrotative. movement; relative. to said outer: grading rings, and means mounting said inner rings for rotation with said drum and at a different rotational speed in the same direction than said outer grading rings.

4. In a rotary grading drum the combination of: a series of longitudinally aligned and interchangeable: T-shapedring mounting and guiding segments adapted to extend radially inward within said grading; drum each of said segments having an open-ended slot formed within the end thereof, means mounting the heads ofi said segments for rotation of the. latter with said grading drum, aseries of outer grading rings for said grading. drum, each being interposed between adjacent segments and each having a series. of uniformly spaced notches formed within the peripheral: edge thereof adapted to jointly straddle and havev keyed engagement with. the opposed head projections of said adjacent segments: whereby said rings are caused to rotate therewith, a series of inner grading ringgfor said grading drum each slidably disposed within the open-ended slot of its correlated segment to; eccentric rotative movement relative to said outer grading rings and each having a series ofuni formly spaced notches formed within the inner edge thereof, means adapted to be straddled by and to have keyed engagement with the notchesof said inner grading rings whereby the latter are mounted for rotation within said grading drum, and means for rotating said outer series and said inner series of grading rings independently of one another at different rotational speeds in the same direction.

References Cited in the. file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 806,383 Williams Dec. 5, 1905 2,241,977. Buck May 13, 1941 2,335,891 Urschel et al. Dec. 7, 1943 2,416,008 Kerr Feb. 18, 1947 

